Larry E. Sturdevant

Larry Eugene Sturdevant, a long time resident of Cortez, passed away on Wednesday, July 16, 2014 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago following a stroke. He was 66 years old. Larry and his wife, Judy, were in Chicago to welcome their second grandchild into the world. Michael Lawrence O’Donnell was born one week after his death.

Larry was born to Everett Laverne Sturdevant and Mabel Nancy Simpson in Hastings, Neb. After his own father passed away when Larry was 11 years old, he traveled to New Zealand (his mother’s homeland) with his mother and brother, Richard. He treasured his time in New Zealand and spoke fondly of his family and life-long friends there.

Upon return to the U.S., Larry’s family resumed living in Hastings. After his graduation from Hastings High School, Larry attended Milford Technical School in Nebraska and was certified as an HVAC Technician. He served in the U.S. Army from 1967 to 1969 and was stationed in Germany. In 1970 he married Judy Sass of Hastings. The couple raised four children.

Larry earned a Bachelor Degree in Education from the University of Nebraska at Kearney and a Masters Degree in Vocational Education Administration from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo. During their residence in Fort Collins Larry taught at the Larimer County Vocational Center. In 1995 the Sturdevant family moved to Cortez, where Larry was an administrator at San Juan Basin Technical College. He was a lifelong advocate of vocational technical training and education and a dedicated teacher and administrator who inspired many students over the years.

Wherever they lived Larry was active in his wife and children’s lives, activities and education. He will be remembered for his fun loving and adventurous spirit and great love for the outdoors. Since his retirement nine years ago, Judy and Larry have traveled to several countries in Europe, the Holy Land, Turkey and New Zealand. Larry continued to enjoy the outdoors, travels, family gatherings as well as being an avid reader up to his death.

He is referred to as a loving husband and father, the best grandfather (“papa”), an adventurous brother, a great neighbor and a trusted friend.

He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Judy, and their four children: Ann Theine (Joe Theine) of Durango, Colo.,; Molly Sturdevant (Sean O’Donnell) of Chicago; John D. Sturdevant of Telluride, Colo.; and Mark A. Sturdevant of Durango. He will also be missed by numerous sisters and brothers in law, nieces, nephews, godchildren, great nieces and great nephews, cousins and friends.

Please join the family for a celebration of Larry Sturdevant’s life at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Cortez, Colo., at 3 p.m. on Oct. 3, 2014, followed by a reception.

On Friday Sept. 12, at 6:00 p.m. a rosary and prayer service for Larry will be held at St. Margaret Mary, 28 E. Montezuma Ave., Cortez. This day would have been his 67th birthday.

Memorials may be given in Larry Sturdevant’s name to St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church or to St. Columba Catholic School, Durango, or to your local homeless shelter.